Artist Info

KELLY WALSH
Durham, NC

TEXTILES | Handwoven home goods

Penland Affiliation | Penland Student

Artist Bio | Kelly Walsh is a hand weaver living and working in Durham, North Carolina. She worked as a web developer for years before deciding to leave the tech industry to follow her textile artist dreams. Her work has been exhibited in several galleries and shows in North Carolina including the Museum of Life and Science, the Durham Art Guild and the Greenhill Center for NC Art. She was an American Craft Council Randall Darwall Grant Recipient in 2020. Kelly was a resident artist at Liberty Arts from 2020-2023 before moving to her own studio space. In 2023 she received an Artistic Merit award at Centerfest from the Durham Arts Council.

Artist Statement | My artistic practice is centered on the principles of tactility, sustainability, and functionality. I am fascinated by the tactile nature of textiles and their practical purpose in\ our daily lives. I work exclusively with natural fibers, and seek out sustainably grown, processed and dyed yarn wherever I can. Each piece I create is meticulously woven from countless individual strands of yarn on mechanical floor looms. I like exploring color and texture to bring my cloth to life giving it beauty as well as purpose. My goal is to evoke a desire to engage with my art; I want you to feel compelled to touch and experience the texture of my fabrics. My passion for weaving is motivated by the pursuit of creating functional art that enhances people’s lives and contributes positively to the environment.

Technical Information | Kitchen towels are handwoven from 100% cotton. Machine wash cool on a delicate cycle, line dry or tumble dry low temp. Iron if necessary. Do not use bleach or fabric softeners. Table runners are handwoven from 100% USA grown organic cotton, and may contain other natural fibers like linen or hemp. Machine wash cool on a delicate cycle, do not include anything with buttons or zippers that may snag. Line dry and iron with a high temperature. Some fading of colors is expected over time with natural dyes, this contributes to the unique colors and ongoing life of your handwoven pieces.